The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team showed its dominance on the defensive end forcing 23 McKendree turnovers in its 61-38 victory in Lebanon, Ill.
 
Northwest improves to 5-5 overall this season and remains 0-4 in MIAA action.
 
Northwest scored the first bucket of the game just over a minute into the first quarter and never looked back as they did not trail in the matchup.
 
After a quick 8-2 start by Northwest, McKendree had to call an early timeout as they were forced into six turnovers, three of which were steals by Evelyn Vazquez. Vazquez also added four points in the first four minutes of play.
 
At the end of the first quarter, Northwest had a 20-10 lead over McKendree. Northwest shot 9-of-20 from the field and held McKendree to just eight total shots in the first ten minutes of the game. Northwest forced 11 first quarter turnovers with nine of them being steals that led to 12 of the Bearcats 20 points.
 
The second quarter was much of the same for Northwest as they scored five early points, two from Jillian Fleming and a three-pointer from Peyton Kelderman. McKendree found the bottom of the net just once on a free-throw as the Northwest lead increased to 25-11. Again, The McKendree Bearcats were forced to use another timeout just two minutes into the second quarter to try to put an end to the Northwest run.
 
Northwest entered halftime with a 32-15 lead over McKendree. The Northwest Bearcats held the McKendree Bearcats to a total of five second quarter points as McKendree shot 1-of-9 from the field.
 
Northwest had an 18-17 rebounding advantage over McKendree in the half with 10 of Northwest's rebounds coming on the offensive end. Coming into the contest, the McKendree Bearcats turned the ball over an average of 16.7 times per game, and at the half, Northwest Missouri State had already forced McKendree into 16 turnovers.
 
Evelyn Vazquez dominated the half on both ends of the court as she led the team with eight points and tied a team-high with four steals. Ella Moody was tied with Vazquez as she also added four steals. Kelsey Fields tallied six points and five rebounds in the half.
 
The Northwest Bearcats played an even third quarter with McKendree as both squads scored 13 points. In the third, Northwest shot 6-of-16 from the field for 37.5 percent. The McKendree Bearcats shot 5-of-12 from the field for 41.7 percent. Northwest took a 45-28 lead into the final quarter of play.
 
Northwest recorded its fifth win of the season as they outscored McKendree, 61-38. Northwest scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and held McKendree to just 10.
 
Eleven Northwest players entered the game at McKendree, and all eleven players knocked down at least one bucket. The Northwest bench was outstanding as they scored 23 points in the win.
 
Evelyn Vazquez led Northwest in scoring with 16 points. Vazquez also added four steals and two rebounds. Jillian Fleming scored a season-high 10 points in the win as she drained 2-of-3 shots from beyond the arc. Fleming led the team with four assists. Kelsey Fields and Jayna Green each tallied eight points. Fields grabbed twelve rebounds and Green snatched seven. Lindsey Kelderman scored a season-high six points as she went 2-for-5 from three.
 
McKendree has averaged 65.7 points per game coming into Tuesday night's contest. Northwest held McKendree to a season-low of 38 points. The McKendree Bearcats were also forced into a season-high of 23 turnovers for the night. McKendree had only been forced into 23 turnovers one other time this season which came against another MIAA school, Rogers State.
 
Northwest's 14 steals in the game is the highest total for the Bearcats so far this season. Northwest outrebounded McKendree by five and pulled down 16 offensive rebounds compared to McKendree's six.
 
Northwest hits the road again this weekend for its final game before taking a 13 day break as they take on Emporia State Saturday night in Emporia, Kansas. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. in White Auditorium.